Most 'Almajiris' not Nigerians, Ganduje says

"A lot of them are foreigners from the Niger Republic, Chad, and Cameroun,ÔÇØ Ganduje said while declaring open, a 3-day retreat organised by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in Kano.

The theme of the retreat is, ÔÇØEnhancing Basic Education in Nigeria towards a Robust Institutional Strengthening and Effective Stakeholder EngagementÔÇØ.

"From the survey, we have conducted, most of the "AlmajiriÔÇØ roaming our streets are from Niger, Chad, and the northern part of Cameroun.

"Once you improve the quality of 'Almajiri' education system, you are inviting other 'Almajiri' from other places to come to your state. That is another problem.

"The northern governors are putting more pressure toward having a universal legislation that will limit the migration from one state to another,ÔÇØ he said.

He said that the retreat was "very vital and important, especially at this moment that the country is gradually coming out from the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected education in the countryÔÇØ.

According to Ganduje, the retreat is also important because it is coming at a time education has become the first victim of uncontrolled population, especially when it is not matched with appropriate economic development.

Ganduje disclosed that free and compulsory primary and secondary school education as well as the transformation of the ÔÇØAlmajiriÔÇØ education system were some of his major priorities in the education sector.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary, UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobboye, had said that the retreat was aimed at providing an opportunity for the board and management to brainstorm, exchange ideas and strategies toward moving basic education forward.

He said that the board and management would review strategic priorities and propose workable changes in the institution's structure to drive both the medium and long-term goals of the commission.